[De Clérambault's syndrome and transgressive behavior in the consulting room, a cross-sectional study among...

De Clérambault’s syndrome (SC), a delusion that another person is in love with the patient, is associated with stalking and other dangerous behaviors. There are suspicions that caregivers are at increased risk of being victims of these behaviors in patients with SC, but little is known about them.

A questionnaire survey was conducted among psychiatric and somatic caregivers to examine the occurrence and consequences of the behavior of patients with SC. In addition, transgressive behavior in the consultation room, not related to SC, was examined.

284 caregivers participated in the study. 12% (n = 33) had experience treating a patient in whom SC occurred. 25% (n = 71) had experienced a patient (no SC) falling in love with them, which was accompanied by stalking (18%; n = 13) and psychological symptoms (11%; n = 8). Especially female caregivers were confronted with (sexually) transgressive behavior (flirting, being asked on dates). Psychiatric caregivers noticed more often that patients flirted with them in the consultation room compared to somatic caregivers.

The findings confirm the prevalence of SC and the potentially serious consequences of this behavior for caregivers. In addition, transgressive behaviors not related to SC occur frequently. Further research is important to further investigate the severity and consequences and develop appropriate interventions that will better enable caregivers to protect themselves from such behaviors.